Astatula

ASTATULA - Mayor Jake Farley and Town Council members Shane Lanoue and Mitchell Mack will face challengers in their re-election bids during Tuesday's election. The three incumbents are running for a second term in their respective seats. Farley is being challenged by former councilwoman Judith Tice, while Laura Sokolowski is running for a council seat along with Lanoue and Mack. Because there are three council candidates competing for two positions, the two top vote-getters will win the seats.

An Astatula man who was charged last year with swindling $44 million from banks pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and faces 30 years in prison. As part of a plea bargain, Pedro "Pete" Benevides, 44, agreed to cooperate with a federal investigation into others involved in the massive rip-off. Twenty other counts against him will be dismissed when he is sentenced as part of the agreement. In addition to prison time, he faces a $1 million fine and has agreed to forfeit about $40 million in cash plus three exotic vehicles - a 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago, a 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo and a 2009 Audi R8. Benevides was indicted in September and accused of using the money to fund his companies and purchase himself swanky gifts.

ASTATULA — Former Town Council member Judy Tice won the mayoral election this week in a squeaker, unseating Robert "Jake" Farley. Meanwhile, challenger Laura Sokolowski won a seat, with incumbent Shane Lanoue losing and another incumbent, Mitchell Mack, retaining his council seat. Tice received 171 votes to 163 for Farley, Town Clerk Mary K. Cooper said. In the council election, Mack received 233 votes, Sokolowski 187 votes and Lanoue 132 votes. There were two council seats up for election and three candidates.

The arrest of the 74-year-old husband of Astatula's mayor on a charge of sexually assaulting a girl younger than 12 has left the tight-knit rural community buzzing with worry, the owner of a popular diner in town said. "Very shocking," is how Sharon Stephens, owner of the Race Car Diner, described the mood of customers this morning to news of the arrest of Harry Watson Tice on a charge of sexually assaulting a girl younger than 12. "People are wanting to know where he lives and whether their kids are safe.

Q. What happened to Astatula's bid to annex miles of County Road 561 north and south of town so it could stop speeding vehicles and drug dealers?A. Lake County Sheriff George Knupp threw the town a curve when he spoke out against annexation, which would cut into the territory his officers patrol.State Rep. Everett Kelly, D-Lady Lake, also was against the annexation. He said the town was setting up a speed trap with the intent of bringing in cash through traffic tickets.''We already have a lot of drivers complaining about getting stopped in Astatula,'' Kelly said.

ASTATULA — Challengers unseated Mayor Robert "Jake" Farley and Councilman Shane Lanoue, while a third incumbent, Mitchell Mack, retained his council seat in Tuesday's town election. Judith Tice, a former councilwoman, won the mayoral seat, receiving 171 votes, while Farley, a one-term mayor, received 163 votes, said Town Clerk Mary K. Cooper. Laura Sokolowski received 187 votes to win a council seat, while Mack received 233 votes for a second term in office. The other council incumbent, Lanoue, received 132 votes.

Norman Bertrand was re-elected to a two-year term on the Astatula City Council in Tuesday's election, receiving 105 votes. Ronald E. Hartman also won a two-year term, with 140 votes, to replace James D. Ellrodt, who had 50 votes. Because of unfulfilled terms, three people were elected to the council for one year, to finish out the two-year terms. The winners were Walter T. Taylor with 124 votes; Pamela J. Maggard with 115 votes; and Marie C. McQuaig with 97 votes. They ran against Julie Hoagland, who received 84 votes.

Get the party over 'fore the yokels take offense … Blue Collar Ball Drop, it's all about the time We drop our ball early - fireworks at nine. Doug Koskey "Blue Collar Ball Drop Song" The conspirators and merry pranksters behind the Blue Collar Ball Drop in Astatula are at it again. Not content with pulling off a community parade and ice slide for kids earlier in the month, this crowd is sponsoring a townwide - oh, heck, the truth is that anyone can come - New Year's Eve party.

Incumbents Wally Taylor and Mary Ward were re-elected and Pat Hampton won a seat on the Astatula City Council on Tuesday. Ward led all candidates with 81 votes, Taylor was second with 71 and Hampton was third with 68. James Brumbaugh finished fourth with 53. There were 115 ballots cast in the city election with voters selecting up to three candidates. The winners will serve two-year terms.

An Astatula man reported he was robbed of about $481 early Friday by a woman who knocked on his door and identified herself as ''an old friend,'' Lake County sheriff's reports say.Robert Mack Cheatwood, 63, told deputies that when he opened his door about 12:10 a.m. the woman pulled a gun and threatened to kill him.Cheatwood said the woman stripped his wallet of cash and then fled with a man in a red Chevrolet station wagon.Cheatwood said he quickly pulled on a pair of pants and followed the car to Zellwood, where the car stopped and the woman ran into a house.

ASTATULA - For years, Astatula has been the only town in Lake County that has held its elections in early December. In the coming weeks, town leaders are hoping to change that. The Town Council tonight is expected to approve changes to the charter that will move the town's election day from early December to early November. The new election day, which must be approved by voters on Dec. 3, would coincide with the rest of the county, and hopefully encourage better turnout at the polls, Mayor Judy Tice said.

ASTATULA - Excitement in this tiny town has been pretty rare since the Dollar General opened its doors last year. But at 1 p.m. Saturday, Astatula will celebrate the opening of a new town hall and police station. It's a big occasion in the town of 1,785 residents and one traffic light. "It's like going from a telephone booth to a real building," said Town Clerk Kitty Cooper. "It gives us room for everybody to have their own office. " While the building upgrade is a big change - town hall went from 1,500-square-feet to just under 5,000-square-feet - the way the town got the building is even bigger.

MONTVERDE - Water makes kids laugh and act silly. Children showed up in droves recently for Water Day at the Helen Lehmann Memorial Library. A half dozen Montverde firefighters sprayed youngsters on a day when the heat index reached 104 degrees. Kids also had fun navigating a 50-foot vinyl banner soaked down with bubbles to create a slip and slide and splashing around in a couple of pools. Enjoying the water are Kendall Carey, 5, above, and, in photo at left, brothers Jason, 3, left, and Ben Fontecchio, 2. Joining Montverde kids were visitors from surrounding communities including Astatula, Clermont, Ferndale, Howey-in-the-Hills, Minneola, Oakland and Winter Garden.

Get the party over 'fore the yokels take offense … Blue Collar Ball Drop, it's all about the time We drop our ball early - fireworks at nine. Doug Koskey "Blue Collar Ball Drop Song" The conspirators and merry pranksters behind the Blue Collar Ball Drop in Astatula are at it again. Not content with pulling off a community parade and ice slide for kids earlier in the month, this crowd is sponsoring a townwide - oh, heck, the truth is that anyone can come - New Year's Eve party.

ASTATULA — Former Town Council member Judy Tice won the mayoral election this week in a squeaker, unseating Robert "Jake" Farley. Meanwhile, challenger Laura Sokolowski won a seat, with incumbent Shane Lanoue losing and another incumbent, Mitchell Mack, retaining his council seat. Tice received 171 votes to 163 for Farley, Town Clerk Mary K. Cooper said. In the council election, Mack received 233 votes, Sokolowski 187 votes and Lanoue 132 votes. There were two council seats up for election and three candidates.

ASTATULA — Challengers unseated Mayor Robert "Jake" Farley and Councilman Shane Lanoue, while a third incumbent, Mitchell Mack, retained his council seat in Tuesday's town election. Judith Tice, a former councilwoman, won the mayoral seat, receiving 171 votes, while Farley, a one-term mayor, received 163 votes, said Town Clerk Mary K. Cooper. Laura Sokolowski received 187 votes to win a council seat, while Mack received 233 votes for a second term in office. The other council incumbent, Lanoue, received 132 votes.

Nine Astatula residents, upset over fences they say are partially blocking the dead-end road to their homes, picketed the Lake County Courthouse on Tuesday to protest the county's refusal to resolve the situation.The Double Run Road residents contend it was the county's error that created the problem five years ago, and that the county should correct the problem.County officials concede they made the error but are powerless to correct it because they have no legal basis to get involved.Carrying signs emblazoned with such slogans as ''Without power, without rights'' and ''County speaketh with forked tongue,'' the residents marched throughout the day on the sidewalk in front of the courthouse.

ASTATULA -- Husband and wife team Pavah Jean and David Kucharek know getting out of the car to shop can be tiresome. That's why they include drive-through service at their new convenience store, PJ's Hit-n-Run. "It's been the hit of this town," said David Kucharek. "We get a lot of old people and a lot of younger people with children." About 60 percent of the business at the store at 25924 County Road 561 is from the drive-through, he said. For older people who find getting out arduous, it can be helpful.

ASTATULA - Mayor Jake Farley and Town Council members Shane Lanoue and Mitchell Mack will face challengers in their re-election bids during Tuesday's election. The three incumbents are running for a second term in their respective seats. Farley is being challenged by former councilwoman Judith Tice, while Laura Sokolowski is running for a council seat along with Lanoue and Mack. Because there are three council candidates competing for two positions, the two top vote-getters will win the seats.